Installation system for cooking appliance and method for installing cooking appliance

Abstract

An installation assembly for a cooking appliance ( 12 ) includes a retaining assembly ( 22 ) defining a channel ( 24 ). The retaining assembly ( 22 ) includes a first side arm ( 104 ) and a second side arm ( 106 ) disposed adjacent to the first side arm ( 104 ). The first side arm ( 104 ) and the second side arm ( 106 ) are biased to a retracted position. A coupling assembly ( 30 ) is configured to couple to the cooking appliance ( 12 ). The coupling assembly ( 30 ) includes a coupling feature ( 130 ) having an insertion end ( 134 ) and a coupling end ( 136 ). A locking feature ( 140 ) is coupled to the insertion end ( 134 ). The locking feature ( 140 ) has a greater width compared to the coupling feature ( 130 ) to adjust the first side arm ( 104 ) and the second side arm ( 106 ) to an extended position as the coupling assembly ( 30 ) is inserted through the channel ( 24 ). The locking feature ( 140 ) is retained on the retaining assembly ( 22 ) in an installed position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An appliance installation system, comprising:
 a support structure having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the support structure defines at least one aperture;   at least one retaining assembly coupled to the upper surface of the support structure, wherein the at least one retaining assembly defines a channel configured to align with the at least one aperture;   a cooking appliance having a top surface and a bottom surface; and   at least one coupling assembly coupled to the top surface of the cooking appliance, wherein the at least one coupling assembly is disposed within the channel and retained in position by the at least one retaining assembly to install the cooking appliance to the support structure proximate to the lower surface.   
     
     
         22 . The appliance installation system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one retaining assembly includes a lower cover disposed adjacent to the lower surface of the support structure, an upper cover, a first side arm disposed between the upper cover and the lower cover, and a second side arm disposed adjacent to the first side arm. 
     
     
         23 . The appliance installation system of  claim 22 , wherein the first side arm and the second side arm are biased to a retracted position to retain the at least one coupling assembly within the channel. Page:  4   
     
     
         24 . The appliance installation system of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one coupling assembly has a locking feature configured to adjust the first side arm and the second side arm to an extended position as the at least one coupling assembly is moved into the channel. 
     
     
         25 . The appliance installation system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a telescoping guide rail selectively coupled to the bottom surface of the cooking appliance; and   a guiding feature engaging the telescoping guide rail and configured to move between opposing ends of the telescoping guide rail.   
     
     
         26 . The appliance installation system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a hook coupled to a surface proximate to the support structure, wherein the hook is configured to engage the bottom surface of the cooking appliance.   
     
     
         27 . The appliance installation system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one aperture includes a first aperture spaced from a second aperture, and wherein the at least one retaining assembly includes a first retaining assembly aligned with the first aperture and a second retaining assembly aligned with the second aperture, and further wherein the at least one coupling assembly includes a first coupling assembly coupled to a first side of the cooking appliance and a second coupling assembly coupled to a second side of the cooking appliance, the first coupling assembly configured to engage the first retaining assembly and the second coupling assembly configured to engage the second retaining assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The appliance installation system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a storage assembly having cabinets disposed adjacent to the support structure, wherein a front surface of each of the cabinets is flush with a front surface of the cooking appliance. Page:  5     
     
     
         29 . An installation assembly for a cooking appliance, comprising:
 a retaining assembly defining a channel, wherein the retaining assembly includes:
 a first side arm; and 
 a second side arm disposed adjacent to the first side arm, wherein the first side arm and the second side arm are biased to a retracted position; and 
   a coupling assembly configured to couple to said cooking appliance, wherein the coupling assembly includes:
 a coupling feature having an insertion end and a coupling end; and 
 a locking feature coupled to the insertion end, wherein the locking feature has a greater width compared to the coupling feature to adjust the first side arm and the second side arm to an extended position as the coupling assembly is inserted through the channel, and wherein the locking feature is retained on the retaining assembly in an installed position. 
   
     
     
         30 . The installation assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first side arm and the second side arm each have a lip adjacent to the channel, and wherein the lips engage the locking feature to retain the coupling assembly in the installed position. 
     
     
         31 . The installation assembly of  claim 29 , wherein each of the first side arm and the second side arm is curved to define the channel. 
     
     
         32 . The installation assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 hooks coupled to a surface proximate to the retaining assembly and configured to engage a bottom surface of said cooking appliance when the coupling assembly is in the installed position.   
     
     
         33 . The installation assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the retaining assembly includes a first cover, a first bracket coupled to the first cover, a second bracket spaced from the first bracket, and a second cover coupled to the second bracket, wherein the first side arm and the second side arm are disposed between the first bracket and the second bracket. 
     
     
         34 . The installation assembly of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a support structure defining an aperture, wherein the retaining assembly is coupled to an upper surface of the support structure and the channel is configured to align with the aperture, and wherein the coupling assembly extends through the channel and the aperture when in the installed position.   
     
     
         35 . A method for installing a cooking appliance, comprising:
 coupling a coupling assembly to a top surface of a microwave oven;   coupling a retaining assembly to an upper surface of a support structure;   inserting the coupling assembly through the support structure;   automatically adjusting side arms of the retaining assembly to an extended position as the coupling assembly is inserted through the retaining assembly;   automatically adjusting the side arms to a retracted position as the coupling assembly is further inserted through the retaining assembly; and   retaining the coupling assembly in an installed position on the retaining assembly where the microwave oven is hanging from the support structure.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 positioning a bottom surface of the microwave oven on hooks coupled to a rear surface adjacent to the support structure.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 coupling a back plate having the hooks to the rear surface proximate to a lower surface of the support structure. Page:  7     
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 positioning rails between a lower support feature and the support structure;   sliding the microwave oven along the rails; and   rotating the microwave oven to align the coupling assembly with an aperture in the support structure.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 coupling the rails to a bottom surface of the microwave oven.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of retaining the coupling assembly in the installed position includes aligning a front surface of the microwave oven with a front surface of an adjacent storage assembly.